ballistic missiles: North Korea fires ballistic missiles, South Korea, Japan say
North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast, prompting condemnation from South Korea as a threat to Korean peninsula stability. Japan also reported the launch, with the missiles landing outside its exclusive economic zone. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command noted the launch but assessed no immediate threat to personnel or allies. This comes amid growing military cooperation between North Korea and Moscow, including suspicions of arms supplies from Pyongyang to Russia for the Ukraine conflict.